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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.

A Modern Day Good Samaritan

Speak up and judge
fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31: 9

Recently, a visually impaired
man was paying for lunch at a fast food restaurant when heunknowingly dropped a $20 bill on the floor.
As the blind man walked away, the woman behind him in line picked up the money
and stuffed it in her purse.

Joey Prusak, a 19 year old
employee working the cash register, saw it happen. He politely asked the woman
to return the man’s money, but she insisted she had dropped the bill.

Joey replied, “Ma’m, I’m going
to ask you one more time to return the money or leave the store.” When she
refused, Joey told her to leave because, “I’m not going to serve anyone as
disrespectful as you.” Swearing heatedly at him, she left.

The teenager then approached
the blind man who was eating lunch. After explaining everything, he took $20
from his wallet and gave it to the man on behalf of the restaurant.

Joey demonstrated the justice
and fairness God values. As Psalm 99:4 says, The King is mighty, he loves
justice… In my imagination I picture applause and a drum roll in Heaven in
that shining moment when young Joey stood up for what is just and fair.

Under the influence of our
human sin nature, it’s easy to develop a “me first” mentality like the woman
who scooped up the $20 bill. We can become so focused on ourselves that we are
indifferent to others and lose our compassion.

However, God tells us, Speak
up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs
31:8-9). God wants us to actively defend those who are less fortunate and
vulnerable - to be a modern day Good Samaritan like Joey.